tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42791622651687785742018-02-21T07:23:42.951-07:00JP on GamingJP's opinionated view on the Role-Playing Games. Playing, writing, GMing all can be addressed here.JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.comBlogger1457125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-1495793597239486312018-02-11T15:41:00.000-07:002018-02-12T08:45:28.625-07:00The Many Secrets of Tothet Island Released<P><a href="http://www.DrivethruRpg.com/product/233985/The-Many-Secrets-of-Tothet-Island" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.dmsguild.com/images/5904/233985.jpg" align="right" width="45%"></a>Legacies has now been run by FOE for five years. FIVE years! Time flies. During this time, FOE has grown and grown, with many product released all the time. <P>Moving more into the world of 5th edition, I revisited some old favorites to update and make them into 5th edition adventures. This is one such adventure that has a great hook and development that makes it exciting and challenging to play. Straight up combat is not always the only way to go, in fact here it is likely to get you killed. But do not think there are no combat here... quite the opposite. <P><i>The Many Secrets of Tothet Island</i> is an adventure that will take your characters from first level to 4th level. <p> - As a boon for the GM, the adventure is full of loose ends that can be explored by the party upon conclusion of this adventure. <P> - Included is a LR to allow your character to use as a starter character for <a href="http://FoeLegacies.com" target="_blank">Legacies Organized Play Campaign</a><P>You can get this awesome adventure through <a href="http://www.DrivethruRpg.com/product/233985/The-Many-Secrets-of-Tothet-Island" target="_blank">DrivethruRpg</a>, <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/233985/The-Many-Secrets-of-Tothet-Island" target="_blank">RPGNow.com</a>. <P>Edit: Removed DM's Guild link JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-20639819724925455052018-02-11T14:01:00.000-07:002018-02-11T14:01:15.677-07:00[Campaign Report] The Awakening... the finale <P>After months of trying to get people together, we finally got together (most of us) for the finale of the <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2017/09/rhym-awakening-one-shot-campaign.html">many one-shot campaign</a> started back in September. Today was the final of this storyline. <P>After the last two sessions where the party cleared out WrathKeep, now occupied by the barbarian army. And discovered some of the enemy army's secret, such as how they recognized each other. They were given a great honor by Lady Kotina, High Priestess of the Law. Because the party voted against her in a previous gathering, she gave them the great honor of standing in the front lines, outside the city walls. <centeR><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DVsUiGSXcAUUbq5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DVsUiGSXcAUUbq5.jpg" width="85%" /></a></center><P>Facing them were artillery made of ogres with over-sized slings. With those, they fired at the walls. Not very precise but eventually effective. <center><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DVuXXRuXcAAAAnA.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DVuXXRuXcAAAAnA.jpg" width="85%" /></a></center><P>Having cleared the ogres, they rushed back into town where they realized the enemy had burrowed into town as the veterans all ran out to take out the ogres, the enemy troops were bypassing their defenses. Bands of drakonians and barbarians in orange body paint were attacking the town: setting fires and destroying what they could. <center><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DVuXYndW0AEfcid.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DVuXYndW0AEfcid.jpg" width="85%" /></a></center><P>After a lull in the fighting, both sides reorganized. The barbarians made a big push against the cathedral of the Law, where the slaves of House Katel gathered and where the priests animated zombies and sent them on rampage against the enemy. Here, a large red dragon is sucking power out a power stone, only to be stopped by Keevin (ActionMan) who disrupted whatever he was doing. As the dragon was unable to control the ritual, it keep bleeding necrotic energy that nearly killed the brave Keevin, who saved at the last moment by the brave action of Togg who batted away the hand of the dragon, allowing the dragon to escape, over-charged with the necrotic energy it sought to control. <center><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DVuXaBBWAAAsqcQ.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DVuXaBBWAAAsqcQ.jpg" width="85%" /></a></center><P>In the final act, the PCs infiltrated the keep itself, finding out their compatriot Belladonus/a faked his death in the great hall. Giving a rough idea of the situation above: his brother, Lord Zarzal was locked in battle with a mighty dragon. He told them that they could use the Miststone, a portal they used to travel "somewhere" before. They do not remember where they went, but their mission there was clearly unsuccessful... All they had to do was hit the Miststone with a bead he gave them. <P>Running up, Togg the hareen went to pick up the stone while the others went up-top to appraise of the situation... Yeah... They regretted it and a lot of quality clothing were soiled (except the Sad Willow darkling who did not bat an eye upon seeing the beast). <P>The dragon did not care for the presence or actions of the PCs until the combatants noticed the Miststone was there and Lord Zarzal called <i>"You fools! Why did you bring it here! That's what it came here for!"</i> Group facepalm. On its next action, the dragon moved and took the stone. Followed by a throw of the bead using mage hand... <P>POOF! Everyone within 30 feet of the dragon, including the dragon itself, were swallowed by the Mists. Only Om-za, the kynean sorcerer stood up to find himself alone on the roof. He avoided being swallowed by the Mists. <P>The dragon gone, its army lost cohesion and though it would ravage the countryside, it was no longer the threat it once had. Lady Kotina, High Priestess of the Law, took command of House Katel and restored order in Katelkeep. <P>In the end, only the following party members have their whereabouts still known: Belladonus/a the haver-bard, Hyree the amazon ranger, and Om-za the kynean sorcerer. The rest are lost to the Mists... <P>The story for another time as they say... <P><b>Note to my players</b> I did not tell you about this during or after the game, but I will count the result of the many mini-campaigns as binding for the Tyrants of Saggakar. Therefore, your actions will be written in an upcoming sourcebook for the campaign (which you will all receive a copy when I am done with it). JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-44318199035471045512018-02-06T19:50:00.002-07:002018-02-06T19:50:57.360-07:00[Rhym] Lord of the desert released<P><a href="http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/229574/Rhym-02-Lord-of-the-Desert" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.rpgnow.com/images/5904/229574.jpg" align="right" width="45%"></a>One of the things I love about Rhym is that it allows me to write adventures I cannot in Saggakar. This includes desert-based adventure such as this one. <P>Following the success of Black Sails, I was inspired to write a follow-up adventure. This adventure picks up where <i>Black Sails</i> leaves off, but they can be enjoyed independently. Leaving pirates, ships, and naval puns behind for the heat of the desert, in an adventure that harks to old classics adventures. <P>This 5e adventure premiered at Imaginarium 2017. <P>You can get it through <a href="http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/229574/Rhym-02-Lord-of-the-Desert" target="_blank">DriveThru RPG</a> or <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/229574/Rhym-02-Lord-of-the-Desert" target="_blank">RPGNow</a>. JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-72227390875391006802018-02-03T17:00:00.000-07:002018-02-03T17:02:50.283-07:00[Review] Starfinder: Is it worth it?<center><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/Starfinder-feat.jpg" width="75%"></center><P>I spend a long time mulling over this review because I wanted it to reflect my thoughts. I wrote most of it shortly after I played my first game and persevered for quite a few more. My first impressions are only confirmed by more adventuring. How much of that are the GMs and the team has been taken out of the equation. <h3>The Good</h3><p>Starfinder is quite simply <b>Pathfinder in Space</b>, this makes Starfinder a known quantity. In spite of the few tweaks, anyone knowing how to play Pathfinder quickly gets into the game. The dice rolls, the AC system, the skills are all still there. That's a good thing and shows the versatility of the D20 system. Other than ship combat (see below) the system played well enough. <P>The designers looked at 5th edition and created <b>5e-inspired abilities</b>, include a "10-minute break" (aka short rest) and few abilities that grant "advantage" (but not called that). <P><b>The scale is right</b>. Starfinder finds itself in a spot between Star Wars and Star Trek, somewhere along the lines of Firefly. This is a good place for a setting-less game as it allows the GM to do a lot of different things with the game. And players do not get drowned in NPCs. <P>It would be impossible to mention a Paizo major release without saying a word about its <b>production value</b>. This book is absolutely beautiful and wonderful to look at. One tiny thing: There is nowhere to easily put your name/info in the cover because of the full color treatment. Though that's a small blip, it does not diminish how good it looks. <h3>The Bad</h3><P>The worse part of the game for me is <b>starship combat</b>. Although I can easily see how the designers did their utmost to try and get everyone involved, it turned out into exactly what I thought it would: 1-2 players doing most of the work and the rest looking around for their turn to roll dice, no RP, no thinking, just roll and move on. This is not fully the designers' fault. I tried to think of a way out of this issue without coming up with a good alternative. There cannot be 5 people deciding what 1 token will do on the board. So 1 or 2 guys are really super involved and the rest wait, roll dice, then wait again. This is more in-line with a board game than an RPG. <P>One of the player mentioned he thought the designers wanted to have the PCs move about the ship doing different tasks, like Han Solo. Han runs from the pilot seat to the engineering section then to the guns. That's fine except many of these positions 1- require trained-only skills or 2- have DC so high that characters not specialized will need to over-specialize to be partially effective (or effective in only one part of the game). With high DC to do anything, low-level characters are paralyzed while high-level guys will simply breeze through this. <P>Adding to my worries particularly in Starfinder Society, as the game will often have new players and you will have to explain this complicated side-game (for it is a side-game) all the time. As the chance of having a consistent, coherent group is effectively impossible. Those who play together regularly will not have this problem. But for those who, like me and ActionMan, play with random people all the time, will find ourselves unable to use the things our characters have to be, ergo: end up with 2-3 pilots, 2-3 gunners, etc. With the small number of skill points per level, we have to make a choice: either be useful in starship combat OR be able to do multiple things. Uber-specialization is needed to be mildly effective. <P>I also found the position of Captain to be underwhelming and boring to play. I rolled a d20, give bonus or a meaningless penalty on the bad guys and then wait for your turn to come back. And half the positions, you cannot roll to help if you do not have the skill. The Taunt action seems great against one ship but is useless when faced with multiple ships. <P><i>"JP, It's not meaningless!"</i> You say. Well let's see... I make an Intimidate check to give a -2 to the baddies's gunnery. Great! But wait... They are +8 to +12. And our own ship AC is 13-15... Yup. Pretty much meaningless. Better get on the guns and shoot them to bits. My theory of "shoot above all else" proved right once again as we played through more adventures. <P>Being Pathfinder in Space has a draw back: <b>the game feels heavy and rules-filled with infinite minutiae</b>. When I think sci-fi, I think of a system that allows me to resolve things quickly and with exciting results. It's not as bad as <a href="jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2016/12/review-modiphius-star-trek-sucks.html" target="_blank">Modiphius' Star Trek</a>. There are way too many times the game bogged down with the minutia that has become synonymous with Pathfinder: one bad roll (because DCs are HIGH), lack of a particular trained-only skill, like the one that allows you to recognize creatures. <P>I found the <b>Starship DCs very high</b>... Meaning that characters never succeed at anything unless they are uber specialized in something. Again, <i>Pathfinder in Space</i>. <P>One of the biggest strike against Starfinder is that there are many <b>valid alternatives</b> to play sci-fi games. Most alternatives are faster, simpler and convey the feel better and with less rules. Off the top of my head, I can think of Savage Worlds, FFG's Star Wars or Shadowrun. <P><b>The SFS Pregens</b> were filled with errors and things that made no sense. For example, I had a med kit that required a DC 25 Medicine check to use... but I did not have that skill, making it completely useless for me to use! We found a few other issues and problems with them that I don't remember specifically. <P>I hate shopping. With a passion. I really, really hate it. On or offline. I foresee with dread that Starfinder will quickly turn into a massive <B>mega-catalog</b> of bonus-shopping that will make more than a afew character builds redundant. <i>Oh you have Cultures? at +5? I have a rolodex +15, don't bother rolling...</i> I fully expect to see such things appear quickly (I mentioned Shadowrun earlier, and that is one of its biggest issues IMO). <h3>The Setting</h3><P>As written, the game and the setting really go hand in hand. Unlike in Pathfinder where there is no setting with the core book. Starfinder has its setting built-in. <P>The setting has a number of creative things that makes it interesting, but not exciting. As for Golarion, we get only a teaser of what is where. It's "Fine" but I won't say it is great. It wants to be everything for everyone, without really hitting it. You would be hard-pressed to play Star Wars or Star Trek with it. <P>It integrates with Pathfinder with the lack of Golarion. I thought that was a cool idea to make the planet disappear (also, a convenient way not to have to explain what happens there). Absalom Station works as an alternative <P>Not bad. Not great. Okay. <h3>Starfinder Society</h3><P>I thought interesting that Starfinder Society had <i>Multi-faction</i> rewards! Where have I seen that? OH yes! The <a href="http://foelegacies.com" target="_blank">Legacies Organized Play</a> Campaign had that! I'm glad to see they still look at my stuff for inspiration! In all fairness, I look at theirs all the time, so fair play! <P>The beginning of their demo adventure could be clearer. We were under the impression that we were member of the Society, but no... Just odd stuff. The adventure itself (other than ship combat) was fun and seemed to set up a storyline. <h3>Who is this for?</h3><P>Which leads me to ask the question. <i>Who is the target audience for Starfinder?</i><P>After thinking about it, I have to answer: Pathfinder fans who want to do sci-fi. People who love and enjoy playing Pathfinder are the most likely people to be drawn in to play this. The <i>Pathfinder-in-Space</i> means that those who like Pathfinder will find Starfinder in their wheelhouse. It will not convert those who dislike Pathfinder to it. <P>I do not expect masses to drop their other system to jump into Starfinder. Those who like sci-fi likely already have a game they like and while they may "dip" or have a look at Starfinder, I don't know how much player retention they will have. <h3>So...</h3><P>Well, I like Pathfinder, even if it is getting very heavy, old, and bloated. So the character-level stuff I did in Starfinder made me like it enough that I broke down and bought the book. Which was something I did not really expect to do. So a big plus for Starfinder. <P>The ship combat is a mess and I really hate it. A feeling shared by quite a few others of the players. While they may not have hated it as much as I did, they shared many of my skepticism about SFS and ship combat. Flying the ship is an exercise in arguing with the rest of the party, between tactically-oriented players (like myself), tactically inept players who still want to command everything, and the rest of the bored band wanting to get to something where something other than their numbers matter. <P>So my rating will go from <b>4/5</b> for Pathfinder fans to <b>2/5</b> for those who are not, settling on an odd <b>3/5</b>. If you like the Starship combat system, bump that up by 1 to a 5/5 and 3/5. <P><b>Will FOE ever produce material for it?</b> I reserve the right to produce stuff. At this time, the outlook does not look good. JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-87549303973314620032018-01-22T20:02:00.000-07:002018-01-22T20:02:25.716-07:00FOE at Conglomeration in Louisville in 2018<P>With the spring convention season nearly upon us, I have to start and schedule my yearly travel times. Not only with the cons themselves, but also with the Missus and the kiddos. This year, I plan on returning to Conglomeration in Louisville KY. It is a convention I really enjoyed. <P>Don't believe me? See the my After Action Reports for <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2016/04/conglomeration-2016-after-action-report_22.html" target="_blank">2016</a> and <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2017/04/conglomeration-2017-aar-part-2-good-bad.html" target="_blank">2017</a>. <P>Particularly the following passage: <center><table width="75%"><tr> <td bgcolor="#d4d4d4"> <P>I am very encouraged by the gaming team to do some changes and improve how the game room flows and runs and will anxiously (read: I will bother Derek about it through the year) wait for details of decisions and plans. </table></center> <P>Well Derek and I have been talking about the convention and I am very happy to report that FOE will be returning to Louisville at the end of March to run some new material. I am still finalizing what I want to run and that's a big problem now because of the growing amount of material I can draw from: Akhamet, Rhym and Saggakar. It's like I am a 3pp Organized Play campaign all my own! <P>Seriously... the multi-setting campaign I can now run is pretty much how I envisioned Legacies would grow as a 3rd Party campaign, where different style of adventures would take place together. <P>But enough side-bar! <P>If you plan to attend Conglomeration, and I strongly encourage you to do so, I was able to get a special discounted rate for those who sign up with the GMPROMO2018 code... This code will take 5$ off your registration! At that price, I am thinking of having the kids join me. Well, Jojo and ActionMan. I don't think Kitty cares enough. <P>I will have the latest Rhym adventure, <i>Come to the Hills</i> for sure... and some Saggakar. I have a great plot but my writing for that one has fizzled out. I am stuck at an encounter that just does not make the plot flow. So I have it laying unfinished. <P>Akhamet? Maybe. I want to, but dunno what I will have ready. My plan is to offer 3-4 game slots, including the Sunday morning. JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-73727917078527201062018-01-14T21:53:00.000-07:002018-01-14T21:53:40.020-07:00Writing Updates for January 2018<P>A quick update on the (many) projects I am currently working on actively. This does not includes projects on which I jotted down ideas because there are a lot THOSE. <P><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/writing.gif" align="right" width="45%"><b>Akhamet Setting</b> I am continuing to work on Akhamet... The setting is in a good shape but still needs work. So... Work in progress. I got some great submissions from two other authors: Ed-K and Randy-P that added extra dimensions to the settings, takes I did not foresee. <P><b>Akhamet Adventure Path</b> of the eight-ten projected unique adventures, I have completed five. Many still need to have added elements. One of the adventure I initially wrote as an introduction to Akhamet, but it grew into something much bigger. So I have a choice: cut it in two OR leave it and come up with something new. Choices... <P><b>Tyrants of Saggakar Advnetures</b> I have been advancing a number of projects here and there, but the most advanced is a story that advanced the plot for House Tioten, with the ArchDespot's own father, Despot Qetneh of Hellsmere. They are still VERY raw and in need of a lot of formatting and polishing. <P><b>Tyrants of Saggakar Fiction</b> I have a new narrative that will go out with the adventures. Once I decide to finally stop self-editing... <P><b>Rhym</b> I have not heard much from JD in quite a while. I hope his health is doing fine. I have started on another adventure for the summer cons: this one takes place in Celtic-inspired Kheldorn. <P><b>FoeLegacies.com</b> It will be time to move the website to a new location. All of that should be behind the scenes-type-stuff. Still the site will now be very mobile-friendly. I am very proud of it, in a nerdgasm sort of way... <P><b>Other projects</b> I have a few things I'm playing with, but my time is currently occupied by Akhamet and the rest of the summer stuff. There are more projects than time to develop everything! <P><b>Playing</b> Finally, I have been making a major effort to play some more. I've been scaling back on Pathfinder games (I am not having as much fun with them as I used to) and running more 5e stuff, a mix of Akhamet, Rhym and Saggakar. My kids really love Saggakar the most, the character races is what they like most. So a lot of plates to juggle. JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-40390545739762164912018-01-13T21:28:00.000-07:002018-01-13T21:28:21.358-07:00Pre-playtest of a pre-release<P>Today, ActionMan and I attended a get together at Grand Adventure Comics, on of the local FLGS. One of the biggest advantages of it is its proximity compared to the distance with the other stores where games are played near here. <P>I brought with me a few things, among them my Akhamet iconics and the intro adventure I am planning to run at Origins. <P>As we were a very misfit group: misfit in the sense of a wide-ranging experience of playing D&D. Some having never played, some only played 1st Edition, others 3e/Pathfinder, etc. So I opted to run a quick encounter to teach the game to everyone. I pulled out the iconics and ran a simple encounter: the PCs are walking somewhere across the desert, they encounter a small band of zombies. <center><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/Akhamet.Preview.jpg" width="85%"></center><P>ActionMan played a rogue and enjoyed himself. I think he likes the flashiness of the monk better. <P>The minis on there represent the iconics (a mix of Privateer Press, Stonehaven, Wargames Foundry, Reaper and a lot of Crocodile Games) and the Privateer Press undead threatening the PCs... JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-78291236890532736882018-01-08T20:12:00.000-07:002018-01-08T20:12:10.173-07:00[Adventure Writing] The Employer <P>Every adventure has a point therein where the PCs meet with some type of employer. There are a wide variety of "employer" from the Mr Johnson to a man dying on your table with a dagger in the back. <P>There are a wide variety of these people. Their background change, their motivation change, their means change, but they are all the same under the mask: [someone] [asking] the PCs for [something]. <P>Every adventure hook I ever wrote boils down the following five main questions. <P><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/THE_CRYPT_KEEPER_by_mister_bones.jpg" width="45%" align="right"> <b>- Who hires them?</b> This one gives an overview of who the person is and comes first (usually) because it drives a lot of what comes next. A king or a local merchant or a street-side beggar. <P> <b>- What does that person know about it? (publicly and secretly)</b> Not every employer is forthcoming with the information they have. Perhaps there is a secret tied to the plot, perhaps the employer wants the affair put to rest, perhaps there are external pressures on him/her. What he is willing to share and what he wants to hide creates many possible plot twists. <P> <b>- Why doesn't that person resolve the problem themselves?</b> I was always amused how Elminster shows up all the time to ask PCs to do things that are completely trivial (one of the reason I'm not a fan of Forgotten Realms). If you are a super-powerful wizard, why don't you resolve this in the blink of an eye? It is a legitimate question in my mind. Plausible denyability, laziness, distaste for the affair as a whole. <P> <b>- What is the preferred outcome for that person? </b> Just because the person sends the PCs to resolve a situation doesn't mean they want things resolved the way they ask for. If the PCs and the dragons killed each other might be a great way to remove problems. A partial success may help the vizier more than a complete success. Failure may serve the king because he would rid himself of a troublesome step-daughter. This completes the motivation for the adventure. <P> <b>- What is that person willing to offer to get it done? </b> Very few PCs will ever do things without some form of compensation or reward. This is an opportunity for the PCs to gauge the importance of the task in the eyes of the employer and might get them to re-evaluate their involvement. From a previous 4e LFR special <i>"So you want us to infiltrate Zhentil Keep for 25gp?"</i> The adventure from there had an air of silliness to us. We fan-boys knew it would be really cool to do so, but there is no way our levels 1 and 2 characters would undertake such a voyage. On the other end of the spectrum an overly generous reward may hint that the employer has no interest in paying. <P>Using the questions above, sending your PCs against bandits in the Nearby Hills will be very different one way or another. <P>Try it with simple quest and you will see how your adventure quickly changes from one type to another. JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-22186034665867511902018-01-06T21:56:00.000-07:002018-01-06T21:56:29.899-07:00[Campaign Report] The disagreeable wife (with art)<center><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/2018.MissingWife.1.jpg" width="85%"></center><P>Today, I ran another of our family's home game starring three PCs. The kids taking their roles once again. <P> - Awelara, the apothecary (cambion warlock 4, played by Jojo)<br> - Nightshade, the urchin (darkling monk 4, played by Kitty)<br> - Zombie-Slinger, the soldier (anuka fighter 4, played by ActionMan).<br> <P>At the end of the last episode, they managed to stop the <i>dimensional web</i> from destroying Saggakar. However, Zombie-Slinger was lost when he played with the device before it was turned off. So this adventure started as the girls arrived in a cave filled with Mists not remembering where they came from... <p>The two found a wanted poster in their pack. Yes, the following poster: <center><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/ZombieSlinger.Wanted.jpg" width="85%"></center><P>They had no idea who this Zombie-Slinger or Ramis of House Ougozar were... They headed to the nearby town of Pemrose in Therland where they found Zombie-Slinger working as a city guard there. <P>The Anuka has a treasure map where ancient orc chiefs were buried. <center><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/2018.MissingWife.2.jpg" width="85%"></center><center><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/2018.MissingWife.4.jpg" width="85%"></center><P>Having cleared out the whole caves, they found only large spiders, dead bodies, a pre-looted crypt, and a wedding locket. Flush with victory and wanting to buy more stuff, they returned to town to sell the equipment they found and buy new stuff. <p>The locket it turns out got them involved in an affair of a missing wife. So they began looking for the missing woman, which finally led them to a ruined keep nearby where a band of warriors kept the woman. They stormed the castle, fighting off wave after wave of reinforcements, including a magical snake, and the leader of the plot. <P>In the end, they found the woman which sounded a lot like their mother. And hillarity ensued... In the end, they were victorious and had lined their pockets. <center><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/2018.MissingWife.5.jpg" width="85%"></center> <P>Kitty colored Irene's work because she wanted her character to be colorful! <center><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/2018.MissingWife.3.jpg" width="85%"></center><hr><P>On a personal note, I think the maps for this part of the adventure was pretty nice and snazzy. I used the dungeon section as a way to bring the PCs into the story. They kept looking for "but there has to be a secret passage", "Are you sure we did not miss anything?", and my favorite "But there is no treasure here!" <P>The massive battle at the end was pretty cool, with reinforcements serving as a rechargeable lair action! (Yes, I had a maximum number of soldiers to send against them)JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-7365914013550358882018-01-02T21:18:00.000-07:002018-01-02T21:18:38.438-07:00Looking of GMs for Origins<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DHq4k5CXkAAgdJo.jpg" align="right" width="25%"><p>Now is the time to think about the summer con season. Yes, already! I am looking for one or two additional GMs for Origins (June 13-18) to run games for FOE. Right now, FOE runs events on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and Sunday mornings. <P>Origins will have three new adventures: one for Akhamet, one for Rhym and one for Saggakar. <P>If you are available and interested, let me know. I offer books... physical books... Contact me and we will discuss. JP@chapleau.us JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-80822153395581789662018-01-02T19:45:00.000-07:002018-01-02T19:45:04.969-07:00Hunting Ogres on a Tuesday<P>I painted these ogres for my home group... Three are from Reaper and two are from Privateer Press. <center><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/DND/1711.Ogres.3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/DND/1711.Ogres.3.jpg" width="75%"></a><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/DND/1711.Ogres.1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/DND/1711.Ogres.1.jpg" width="75%"></a><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/DND/1711.Ogres.2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/DND/1711.Ogres.2.jpg" width="75%"></a></center>JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-61513203639441981402018-01-01T12:54:00.000-07:002018-01-01T12:54:52.740-07:00Yearly Retrospective 2017 <h3>Professional Life</h3><P>The biggest event this year on the professional side was without a doubt my getting laid off in October. The company I worked for decided to stop all development efforts and I was sent packing. A sad state of affair for sure. I had not planned for this change and it took me by surprise but to be fair, I got a decent severance package which allowed us to get through this difficult and stressful time. <P>After many interviews, I had to choose between no less than five to seven positions, from Denver, to Louisville, to here in Nashville. The final decision was not an easy one: a lot of great recruiters worked tireless hours to get me interviews. On the plus side, if you are looking for great recruiters, I know many in both Louisville, KY and in the Nashville, TN area... <P>Luckily for me, I was able to find a new job, one that will teach me a lot and grow my skills. <P>One big kudos go to my children who were very stressed and unnerved by the situation but my wife and I told them that we would handle the situation and that their job was to focus on school. They did, and all three got good or improved their grades during the period. Kudos to them. <h3>RPGs</h3><P>This year, I played more and more 5th edition and am finding myself liking the game more and more, and Pathfinder less and less. <P>I like the lightness of 5th Edition and the speed of play: my kids understood 5e a lot quicker and are more effective at it. The community as a whole seems a lot more receptive to playing new things using 5e. <P>One element that has turned me off of Pathfinder is its heaviness. The game is old and it shows. It needs a youth treatment more than ever. Add to it the arguments over minutiae and the gross unbalance of the character classes from the latest books dimmed my enthusiasm. <P>The released of Starfinder has only compounded the problem, it feels like Pathfinder. I bought the book, but do not think I will invest anymore in that game. It's setting is too involved in its ruleset to allow for alternative locations/settings, so I feel very little interest in investing in it as a publisher. <P>I got to run a home game called <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2017/09/rhym-awakening-one-shot-campaign.html" target="_blank">"The Awakening"</a> set in Rhym, but using characters from Saggakar, Rhym, and using Gostor:Amazon all thrown together. The results have been very interesting and grew into something I really want to play more of. <center><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/Saggakar.HomeGame.jpg" width="75%"></center><P>I ran a short game with the kids, set in Saggakar, where they had to travel to a remote castle to find what happened to a missing First One. They did so, learning to loot the place of any valuable. It was a fun way to play as a family as they cheated each other and tried to get treasure and loot. Yes, they learned... <P>Their characters were: Zombie-Slinger the Anuka fighter (ActionMan), Awelara the cambion warlock (Jojo), and Nightshade the Darkling monk (Kitty). In the end, Zombie-Slinger was lost to another plane and must play in another setting before returning to Saggakar... <P>The other two games I played some, but very little outside of the big events were: Arcanis and Heroes of Rokugan. <P>Arcanis, I still love, but there are so few events happening outside Origins (or the now defunct Arcaniscon) that I don't play much anymore... I'll admit their move to 5e is fully understandable, but also makes me hesitant to follow... I don't really want to play it using 5e, now that I've grown used to ARG. Still the 5e move was inevitable and brings a lot more new faces to Arcanis than ARG ever did. For now I'll only play it using ARG, until I am forced to change. <P>Heroes of Rokugan is one that I like a lot... I have been playing for two-ish years now and really having a blast. I am quite happy that there is a convention Weekend in Rokugan out of St-Louis where I can binge-play and really enjoy myself. I plan on going back this year and living out more wacky samurai action. <h3>Publishing</h3><P>This year was a big one for FOE... We released a number of new products: <P><b> - Tyrants of Saggakar</b> got quite a few new products, in addition to more adventures, the big new was the release of <a href="http://drivethrurpg.com/product/224541/Tyrants-of-Saggakar-Service-is-Eternal-5e" align="_blank">Service is Eternal for 5th Edition</a>. This book is not only a porting of the original <a href="http://drivethrurpg.com/product/150060/Tyrants-of-Saggakar-Service-is-Eternal-PF" target="_blank">Pathfinder</a> version, but also an update, with updated art and added information about First One schools, orders, expanded backgrounds, and many great options for both First One characters and enemies. Oh yeah... if you are a haver, you can use them... <P>Faremh, the ArchDespotate is the setting for our Legacies campaign. A number of new setting products have been added, building up to a mega-book which I call "Ultimate Faremh" that will include everyone of these smaller books into a bigger, more comprehensive one. <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://drivethrurpg.com/product/221235/Tyrants-of-Saggakar-Markelis-CityintheMists" target="_blank">Markelis City-in-the-Mists</a> presents a new city setting. It was a nice change of pace to write about a location in the grips of the Mists, without revealing the "truth" behind the Mists. <br>&nbsp;Still on the settings, <a href="http://drivethrurpg.com/product/228859/Tyrants-of-Saggakar-Spiderfen-Terror-in-the-Trees" target="_blank">Spiderfen Terror in the Trees</a> details the northern forest of the ArchDespotate. <P><b><a href="http://drivethrurpg.com/product/212020/Rhym-Campaign-Setting-5e" align="_blank"><img src="http://drivethrurpg.com/images/5904/212020.jpg" width="25%" align="right"></a> - Rhym Campaign </b> This new exciting setting allows us to write and run adventures using a setting very different from Saggakar. This second setting has done very well this year, and spurred some interesting campaigns, including my own <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2017/09/rhym-awakening-one-shot-campaign.html" target="_blank">"The Awakening"</a> campaign. The more I write for it, the more I like it! The First Rhym adventure, <a href="http://drivethrurpg.com/product/229572/Rhym-01-Black-Sails" target="_blank">Black Sails</a>, was released late in the year. <a href="http://drivethrurpg.com/product/212020/Rhym-Campaign-Setting-5e" align="_blank">5e</a> <P><b> - Gostor: Amazon</b> for both <a href="http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/211680/Gostor-Amazon-Pathfinder-RPG" align="_blank">PF</a> and <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/211750/Gostor-Amazon-5e" align="_blank">5e</a> <h3>Trips</h3><P><b>Montreal in the Summer</b> The most important family trip of the year was back to my homeland of the province of Quebec, where my wife spent a few weeks, I renewed my passport, and we got to spend quality time with both our families. <P>We missed many friends, but time was limited... <P><b>Montreal in the Fall</b> With a new job, I had to fly back to Montreal to renew my work visa for the new job. This should've been a quick in-and-out trip, with the biggest surprise was bringing my mother in law back with me as a surprise for Julie. BUT NO. I was refused at the border for "not leaving quick enough" (further research showed I still have over 20 days to leave when I left)... So Julie had to make an emergency trip from Nashville to Montreal so we could all cross the border together. In the end, we got the visa and came back home. <center><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/2017.11.DC.1.jpg" width="75%"></center><P><b>Washington, DC</b> The return trip from Montreal to Nashville was cut short with a stop in DC. We walked the Mall, saw the major sights before coming back. This was a welcomed break in the traveling. <h3>Sports</h3><P>The biggest and most important sporting event of the year was the Nashville Predators going to the Stanley Cup finals. This really increased the status of the game here in Nashville... And was very exciting to feel the craziness and the massive party atmosphere that fell on the city. While I am a Montreal Canadiens fan (who got bounced in the first round of the playoffs), I have no problem cheering on the Preds... when they don't face my Habs. <h3>Books</h3><P><b>Plutarch - Rise and Fall of the Athenian Republic</b> This book gives us the lives of nine Greeks who had a hand in the Golden Age of Athens. From the Mythological Theuseus to the Spartan Lysander who ended the Republic once and for all. This almost century of a unique form of government and the men that tried to use it and modify it is something that we deal with to this day with our modern government. <P><B>Peter Tsouras - The Warlords of Ancient Mexico</b> I had been reading a lot of ancient Roman and ancient Greek stuff and I wanted to read something different. Ol'Santa Claus brought me this book. This book covers the rise of the Aztecs (or Mexica people). I knew little about them and was very curious. I will say that the rise and fall of the Mexica were both equally meteoric. Rising from outlanders to imperial masters to servants of Spain, all within a century. What a story! I will say that their names were... a mouthful and I quickly learned not to say them out loud, merely recognize their names as written. <P><B>JRR Tolkien - The Hobbit</b> Finally got around to reading this classic of the genre. I don't know why it took me this long to do so. It was an enjoyable book. Having seen the movies, did not lessen my enthusiasm and enjoyment. <P><B>Ian Page - Le Sorcier Majdar</b> The first book of the Greystar series, in French. As a teenager, I really loved that series (and the related Lone Wolf series). So it was on a summer's day that I decided to get the whole series. I really enjoyed this first book even if, of all the Joe Dever books this one feels like it is the one where you do the least. Playing a wizard was fun. <P><B>Lucia St.Clair Robson - The Tokaido Road</b> This book of historical fiction was a welcome and surprising read. I was a tad wary about reading it, but as the pages flew by, the story of Lady Asano and her escape from Edo on the road to Kyoto became more and more enticing. I worried it might become a soapy romance story but no. Presented as many short chapters that each introduces us to one or more elements of Tokugawa Japan. From the pleasure quarter to dealing with commoners, to legal papers, to courtship, the story flows as the main characters walk the road. Very interesting. <P><B>Ian Page - La Cit&eacute; Interdite</b> The second part of the Greystar series and one that feels like there are coming to a head. While the first part sometimes felt short without too many significant choices, this one here provides us with a sequel that continues the plot, more so than Lone Wolf. <P><b>Dave Thompson - Le Talisman de la Mort</b> This fighting fantasy book is one that I had very little recollection about. I remember reading it, but little more. I many ways, this felt like a first reading every. I was greatly and positively surprised by the amount of choices and the amount of things to do here. Definitely one of the best ones of the series. <P><b>DC Showcase - Teen Titans #2</b> Having read the first one, I was not looking forward to this one. The first one was bland, simple and representing teenagers from the 60s. This book advances the Teen Titans to the 70s and the stories now feel less like the "old-style" DC and more modern as the TT tackle problems that are more in-line with real-life. Granted, it is still odd, but a big step up from the previous collection. <P><B>Marvel Essentials - Defenders #2</b> I was never able to get #1, so I started with #2. Now I must say the Defenders are an odd group. Unlike other superteams, like the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, or the X-Men, the Defenders do not have a fixed or well-defined identity. In many ways, it makes me think of a group of super-powered PCs: somewhat random characters held together by a very thin premise. While these other groups all have a set focus, the defenders go from Asgardian adventures to patrolling the streets for crime. They really are an odd bunch. I am not a big fan of Doctor Strange who seems to be way over-powered for the problems he is facing. He is also one of the most important member who brings his own lore into the group, who along with Hulk are the two "big names". This book ends with a cross-over with Howard the Duck. I mean seriously, that was a complete waste of time! A useless character, a dumb story, I groaned upon seeing the cover and it delivered in groans of pain. <P><B>Steven Saylor - Roman Blood</b> This novel I read in-between other books. I had planned on reading it slowly at night, but for some reason, I brought it with me to Canada. The story was good and really portrayed a number of Roman life. I really liked his portrayal of Cicero and Tiro (who I had read a lot about last year). The plot is good and the investigation interesting enough. The only weak point to me, is the few chapters after the closing of the trial... I rolled my eyes a few times, disappointed in the ending and the fate of Sextius filius. The original and most obvious solution would've been much, much darker and more in-line with the rest of the story. Instead, we get a sort of super-mega-happy end. <P><B>Marvel Essentials - Defenders #4</b> see below... <P><B>Marvel Essentials - Defenders #5</b> The story of the defenders in those two books really evolves here. This confirms the fact that this was really an extended version of many smaller titles with crossovers. This felt very much like an RPG campaigns where the party keeps going off on their own all the time and each has a few occasional touch-point. Very different than the Avengers or the X-Men... <P><B>Marvel Essentials - Marvel Two-in-One #4</b> I knew about Marvel team-up but did not know about this title. Whereas Team-up is a Spider-man showcase, this one is with the Thing. I must say there are a few nice stories, but the Thing is not as interesting as Spider-man, especially on his own. This "issue" also featured the last issue of the series, perhaps the best one of them all, issue #100 featuring the Thing and Ben Grimm. It was almost a What-if issue. <h3>Classes</h3><P><B> - The European Discovery of China - Pompeu Fabra University Barcelona</b> A very interesting and eye-opening class on the interactions between China and the West, from the Roman Empire days through the Middle Ages to the formalization of the relations with Portugal and China. There was so many aspect and elements of Chinese culture I did not know: that the Chinese had illustrated books detailing a lot of things and the quality and beauty of these books were phenomenal. How the Chinese viewed religion as a whole was quite different. I could easily understand how the Chinese found these newcomers completely strange. As someone who plays and writes a lot of medieval-style material, how much these Chinese cities fit our idea of a modern city with many shops and restaurants along the roads... A great class. <P><B> - Life under Richard III - University of Leicester</b> I followed the original unearthing and re-burying of Richard III when his remains were discovered under a parking lot in 2013. This class went through the history of the time and a re-interpretation of his life, trying to separate facts from fiction. Really loved it. <P><B> - Superpowers of the Middle-East - University of Liverpool</b> This one was a short and overall only mildly educational. Having already taken a number of class on Ancient Middle East, this one felt rather flat and not overly informative. It has a few highlights but did not go into great details on anything. <P><B> - Wonders of Ancient Egypt - University of Pennsylvania</b> Follow-up to last year's introduction class. This class was filled with interesting gems. Namely, I learned how to write and draw a number of information on hieroglyphics. Which really provided insight into Ancient Egypt that really made my day. <P><b> - The Age of Cathedrals - Yale University</b> The great creations of the 11th and 12th century creations. <P><b> - Responsive Websites with Bootstrap 3 - Pluralsight</b> This one for my new job... I really liked it and expect to take more of these next year... I created a temporary website for my publishing company (<a href="http://Foe.Chapleau.us/" target="_blank">Here</a>), that will become the template for the new FOELegacies.com. <P><b>Design Pattern Playbook: Structural Patterns - Pluralsight</b> A short class I wanted to use to remind myself of a few specific design patterns. I'll admit it I did not get much from this one. But it was only two hours.. <h3>Conventions</h3><P>This year, I participated in a number of conventions, here is the report I posted about them. <br> - <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2017/03/aar-arcanicon-2017.html" target="_Blank">Arcanicon in Detroit, MI</a><br> - <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2017/04/conglomeration-2017-after-action-report.html" target="_Blank">Conglomeration Part 1</a>, <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2017/04/conglomeration-2017-aar-part-2-good-bad.html" target="_Blank">Part 2 in Louisville, KY</a><br> - <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2017/05/chattanooga-tabletop-game-fest-after.html" target="_Blank">Chattanooga Tabletop Game Fest in Chattanooga, TN</a><br> - <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2017/05/lexicon-2017-after-action-report.html" target="_Blank">Lexicon in Lexington, KY</a> <br> - Nashcon in Nashville, TN <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2017/06/nashcon-haven-of-thieves-and-looters.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a> and <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2017/06/nashcon-part-2-mobile-suit-madness.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a><br> - Origins in Columbus, OH <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2017/06/origins-after-action-report.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2017/06/origins-aar-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a><br> - Gencon in Indianapolis, IN <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2017/08/gencon-2017-aar-part-1.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2017/08/gencon-2017-aar-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a>, <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2017/08/gencon-2017-aar-what-i-learned-from.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a><br> - <a href="http://jpchapleau.blogspot.com/2017/10/imaginarium-after-action-report.html" target="_blank">Imaginarium in Louisville, KY</a> <H3>Blog</h3><P>After a very hot start to 2017 that promised to be the biggest year for this blog, projects, life, and writing projects drew me away from here. It seems I never had enough time to do what I wanted. A lot of good writing came at the cost of this blog... It is still going. Still ticking. <br><BR><BR><P>So with all this, I wish you all a very happy new year. <P>JPJP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0Murfreesboro, TN, USA35.8456213 -86.39026999999998735.6397238 -86.712993499999982 36.0515188 -86.067546499999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-53581446580790163272017-12-23T09:56:00.000-07:002017-12-23T19:08:03.235-07:00Black Sails for Rhym released<center><img src="http://foelegacies.com/Img/RhymLogo.png" width="75%"></center><P>Yarrr!!! <P>After a lot of time and poking around with them, touching and tweaking them over and over, I decided it was time to stop and get these adventures out. <P><img src="http://www.rpgnow.com/images/5904/229574.jpg" align="right" width="35%">Many of you have played "Black Sails", my tale of pirates, scholars, dragons, and intrigue. It is an adventure I longed to write for so long, one I was very happy to get to write. Since Saggakar plays in Faremh, which is landlocked it was not really the best place to set a nautical adventure. <P>You can get it here on <a href="http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/229572/Rhym-01-Black-Sails" target="_blank">Drivethru RPG</a> or <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/229572/Rhym-01-Black-Sails" target="_blank">RPGNow</a> <P>I am really happy to release this adventure, let me know what you think of it! <P>Yarrr!!! <P><B>Edit:</b> Fixed the links JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-24796025167134767142017-12-18T20:32:00.000-07:002017-12-18T20:32:09.324-07:00[Old Pro Tricks] 10 points to a paranoid sandbox campaign <P>I have been talking and participating in a number of threads of rpg.stackexchange.com recently, challenging myself to post valuable insight from the many, many years of DMing, writing and playing RPGs. Every so often, I write something there I think has a lot of value that should be re-posted here. <P>The other user asked a long-winded question about what he called a "Unstructured narrative", basically he wanted to create a sandbox "but not quite". His question was how to create such a setting and how to have his players suffer form paranoia and avoid choice paralysis. I was quite taken by the question because it is one I struggled with - and failed quite a lot - during my long career. He asked for methods to accomplish that. <P><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/grandpa3.gif" align="right" width="45%">Let's see...<br> Pathfinder RPG <b>Check</b><br> Making my players paranoid of what was coming up next. <b>Check</b> <br> Providing them with a sandbox where they can drown to my heart's content. <b>Check</b><br> Keep the PCs in one place for longer than possible. <b>Check</b> <P>So I had to reply. <I><P> The biggest problem you may have is that players simply do not know what to do and don't know where to start. <P> Things I would do before setting them completely loose. <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1- Present the NPC and feature interaction with them. Not just *"Hi! I'm Bob, I'm your cousin blacksmith, do you want a sword?"* But something more meaningful. <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2- Make sure the NPCs bring in some of the questions you want the PCs to ask themselves. Ideally, following the rule of three. They will figure it out and take it beyond what you thought. <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3- Your NPCs should also share some possible avenues of resolving conflict, <i>"You should take care of those Hatfields... they are jerks"</i>. Again the rule of three is a good way to start. <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4- Avoid the whole thing depending on a Sense Motive check (made or failed). A single check should not unveil everything. <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5- Provide the PCs with visuals (or at least a list) of the major suspects. Since they come from town, they should not spend their time exploring and wondering who is who. They WOULD know that Tim sleeps with his neighbors' wife. They WOULD know that Mrs Buttons is the gossip queen. They WOULD know that Father Smitty sleeps in the church on warm afternoons. Etc. All these things are good to provide right off the bat. <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6- The NPCs should FEEL like they are doing something. For example, the guards does not sit at the gate all day waiting to charge gate tax. They get called upon for things of various importance: Mrs Buttons' cat in the tree, looking at a murder, fighting off marauding orcs/goblins, breaking up a brawl. This gives the PCs an added reason to talk to the NPCs: What happened today and what did you do about it? <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7- The death of such a campaign is when the players don't know what to do because they do not have enough things to do. Ideally, overwhelming them with hooks, stories, avenues of investigation. Why? Because if they can't handle everything, guess what the mayor/lord has to deal with? His hands are tied too. <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8- Make sure EVERY PC has some personal story/ plot to deal with. Even the orphan who knows nothing about his past should have something. This may not be immediately obvious, but perhaps the spinster Miss Kara looks longingly at the PC... Every character should have a thread or two that is related to <b>HIM/HER</b>. <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9- Split the party... Yes, I said it. There should be time when the party will split. If they do that and you run the two groups separately, that will create some paranoia. When you do that, this leads me to the big one: <P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10- Make sure everyone has equal time with you. Not everyone is as interested in a total sandbox. <P>What you ask for is VERY possible and doable. In the early parts of the campaign, provide the PCs with a little guidance: offer a few possible missions and ideas, see if they want to take them. </i> JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-4648266184103738802017-12-13T21:24:00.000-07:002017-12-13T21:24:11.427-07:00FOE releases Spiderfen: Terror in the trees<P>It's been too long since FOE published a new product. This is a book that has been actively worked on for quite a while. Pretty much from Day One of Saggakar. Spiderfen is a book that is filled with ideas to adventure in that forest. <P>The book deals not only with the city and seat of House Faremhi, but also the Forest surrounding it. <P><Img src="http://www.rpgnow.com/images/5904/228859.jpg" align="right" width="45%">This book contains: <br> - A history of the city of Spiderfen and the Forest <br> - Detailed descriptions of its most important sites and features, such as the Kiflan River, the populous eastern forest, the dark and mysterious western edges. <br> - Odd races of the Spiderfen Forest, including driders, fey, and hareen or feral halflings. <br> - The city of Spiderfen is mapped and fully detailed. <br> - Four First One Houses <br> - Major NPCs described <br> - Unique locations and plot hooks <br> - Guards and spiders fully statted out for 5th Edition and Pathfinder <br> - Material used extensively for the Legacies Organized Play Campaign <p>Content of this book is usable for the Tyrants of Saggakar, but can be used in any campaign using <b>BOTH</b> 3rd and 5th edition of the world’s oldest role-playing game or Pathfinder Role-Playing Game. However, it is mostly system-agnostic and its content could be easily adapted to any game system. <P>The book is available through <a href="http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/228859" target="_blank">DriveThru RPG</a>, <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/228859" target="_blank">RPGNow</a> and should be available through the <a href="https://www.opengamingstore.com/collections/first-ones-entertainment" target="_blank">OpenGaming store</a> (not yet there as of this publication).JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-44193880368409200652017-12-06T07:38:00.001-07:002017-12-06T07:38:33.164-07:00Back in the saddle<p dir="ltr">After the sad events of October when I was suddenly without employment, I spent the last six weeks in a frantic dash for a new job. </p><p dir="ltr">Frantic is the word because i spent more time on the phone during that time than I did for the whole of the two years prior. I had to start up my outlook calendar just to keep track of who I talked to and interview appointments. On days I would wake up without any calls, I would end up doing a string of unexpected calls. </p><p dir="ltr">I am not complaining. I have, and have positioned myself to have a skill set that is in high demand in the Nashville market. Those of you who do not know, I am a software engineer. I write and think of code for a living.</p><p dir="ltr">He best part of this madness is the place I am in now: starting a new job. Who'd'a thunk that going back to work would be like a vacation? I knew. After the previous scramble in 2015, I knew.</p><p dir="ltr">This time, I had to choose between seven positions. Many of them really good ones, and turning them down was difficult. Decisions are not about making friends, but making the right choice for me, my family, and my employer. A place for that sweet spot... Where I believed I could grow my career the most. It was difficult indeed. Especially when salaries were all very good. I angsted and tossed and turned over many nights. It came up to a coin toss between two places.</p><p dir="ltr">But as usual, with a decision came peace.&nbsp;&nbsp; I slept so well, snored for sure. I had a job again.</p><p dir="ltr">So I am currently sitting in a Waffle House waiting to meet my contact so that I can start... In just under 40 minutes. The routine returns...</p><p dir="ltr">I know Thanksgiving is behind us but I still feel the need to thank so many people. Every recruiter who gave me the chance to showcase what I could do, every employer who wanted to pick my brains and see if my skills could help them. My family in Montreal for their support from afar, my friends in Tennessee and Kentucky. </p><p dir="ltr">But the biggest thanks I have to give goes to my immediate family: my three kids: Jojo, Kitty, and ActionMan who fulfilled their part of the bargain I offered them, to do good in school while I found a new job. And my wife, Julie who supported me during this time, a real rock. I am sure she will be more than happy to see me leave the house and the Dr Phil marathon to end... </p><p dir="ltr">I almost forgot Dr Phil whose sixteen years on tv gave me a lot watch with from my sofa. I mean have you ever met a guy named Philip (and its many spellings) who wasn't a great guy? (There is one, the current premier of my native province of Quebec...)</p><p dir="ltr">Now enough blabbing let's get back to work! </p>JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-79203326057814770332017-11-27T10:11:00.000-07:002017-11-27T10:11:42.241-07:00[Akhamet] Insight into design of a new campaign setting <center><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/0qDX5x4M-mfzuCEEbUD1a24wRqvzo1_PcYtMwSmeJWyXKLv8dMytFejUlg2U0WYW1eCGzJh_gDqh5ek=s0-d" width="500px"></centeR> <P>I have been working non-stop on Akhamet, my idea for a mini-setting with an adventure path linked to it. <P>So I put together a few bullet points that give insight into this latest idea. <h3>Akhamet is NOT like Egypt</h3><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/Art.Akhamet.Iconic.1.png" width="45%" align="right"><P>Akhamet is not Ancient Egypt. The presence of active magic, the presence of many different, intelligent races, the gods’ direct involvement in the affairs of the world, and the geography are all different. <P>Throughout the history of Ancient Egypt, it was a nation connected to the rest of the world. Akhamet is an insular nation without any neighbors. <P>The gods themselves are named and based on the gods of Egypt. However, their portfolios, domains, and attitudes are not the same. <h3>Akhamet is like Egypt</h3><P>Akhamet draws upon Ancient Egypt: the architecture, appearance of the people, the people’s view of the world, the desire for peace, and the ecology. These serve as great <P>Its gods, peoples, legends, cities and stories are quite different. While this setting is inspired and draws from Egyptian folklore, it is not. <h3>Dead Rise</h3><P>Dead bodies left unattended and without receiving proper funerary rites arise as undead creatures, typically ghasts, ghouls, or zombies. These creatures roam about, hunting for the living. <P>Priests of Anubis cannot mummify everyone using the full rites, so the gods provided their priests with spell to prevent this. <h3>God among us</h3><P>Pharaoh is a living god whose home is the palace in Ophara. As the god of the Sun, he is eternal and benevolent. Any word of His immediately becomes law. <P>The recent announcement of his illness and new state is highly unsettling for the people of Akhamet, for to doubt or wish ill of Pharaoh is to commit a major crime. Therefore his current status makes most people try to avoid talking about it. <h3>No Heir</h3><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/Art.Akhamet.Iconic.2.png" width="45%" align="right"><P>Much like the previous point, Pharaoh has over a thousand living children, the Retids. None of them ever dreamed or was ever groomed for the throne if Pharaoh were to die. The retids spend their lives trying to reconcile their divine nature with their common ancestries. <P>A few princes begin to think of themselves as potential successors to their father. More than a few are gathering loyal forces in case of an eventual civil war. <h3>Priestly Administration</h3><P>The civil service is composed of priests dedicated to one of the many gods of Akhamet. In any areas, priests rule over the populace. They serve as barristers, magistrates, professionals, scribes, and local rulers. Priests touch every aspect of life. <P>While not all priests are altruistic or moved by the plights of the locals, this arrangement brought stability, peace and prosperity to life. <P>There is no idea of a separation of church and state, or a lay administration. Saying such things, could be considered seditious. <h3>Akhamet is yours</h3><P>The idea of this mini-setting is to provide a basic framework to create adventures with an Egyptian-them. The content of this book is to support the adventure path. <h3>How can I help with Akhamet</h3><P>I am looking for people wanting to write for Akhamet: I want land, desert, island settlements written, sidetrek-style adventures (like a one-page dungeon). If you are interested in helping out and getting yourselves some writing credits - and a little cash, contact me directly at <a href="mailto:JP@chapleau.us">JP@chapleau.us</a>.JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-79303446339999590722017-11-26T19:36:00.000-07:002017-11-26T19:36:23.173-07:00[Starfinder] Sailor Scouts... for adults <P>With Starfinder released, I bought a number of futuristic miniatures, from Foundry's Near Future range. I sold quite a few already and I kept a few to myself. However, my mix feelings towards Starfinder mean that I will not need to keep them. <P>These scantily-clad ladies I got the idea of painting them in an updated/ adult version of the the Sailor Scouts... They were definitely fun and a challenge to paint right. So little clothing is rare these days and well... <P>I do love me some bikini babes. <center><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/Scifi/1711.Modern.SailorScouts.1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/Scifi/1711.Modern.SailorScouts.1.jpg" width="500px"></a><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/Scifi/1711.Modern.SailorScouts.2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/Scifi/1711.Modern.SailorScouts.2.jpg" width="500px"></a></center>JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-18284550208659783672017-11-25T01:31:00.000-07:002017-11-25T01:31:25.754-07:00YARRR! Pirates Gallore! <P>This group I won as part of a reward from a Kickstarter I took part in. A full crew of Halflings pirates! Can you say "Yarr" in a high-pitched voice? <P>The sculpt is good and simple, but very effective, reminding me a little big of Old Glory miniatures, but with MUCH better faces. <P>These guys paint up really well, and so quickly. My main complaint was when I was done, I wanted to paint more. <P>I added the Reaper cook to the crew because... well having a cook is always awesome. <center><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/DND/1711.Halfling.Pirates.1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/DND/1711.Halfling.Pirates.1.jpg" width="500px"></a><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/DND/1711.Halfling.Pirates.2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/DND/1711.Halfling.Pirates.2.jpg" width="500px"></a><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/DND/1711.Halfling.Pirates.3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/DND/1711.Halfling.Pirates.3.jpg" width="500px"></a><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/DND/1711.Halfling.Pirates.4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/DND/1711.Halfling.Pirates.4.jpg" width="500px"></a></center>JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-14298960407865968042017-11-24T14:21:00.001-07:002017-11-24T14:21:40.758-07:00[Undercity] City Guards <P>Here is a mob of city guards. These guys are from Croe's Cutthroat set, but I got this mob from the Undercity game. I am not overly impressed with the crispness of the details, so I opted to paint them in three groups of six. <P>These guys will serve as guards and all-purpose soldiers. <center><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/Warmachine/1711.Warmachine.Guards.4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/Warmachine/1711.Warmachine.Guards.4.jpg" width="450x"></a><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/Warmachine/1711.Warmachine.Guards.1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/Warmachine/1711.Warmachine.Guards.1.jpg" width="450x"></a><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/Warmachine/1711.Warmachine.Guards.2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/Warmachine/1711.Warmachine.Guards.2.jpg" width="450x"></a><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/Warmachine/1711.Warmachine.Guards.3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/Warmachine/1711.Warmachine.Guards.3.jpg" width="450x"></a></center>JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-8336520463871017192017-11-17T22:19:00.000-07:002017-11-17T22:19:51.930-07:00New Art for Akhamet<P>As I keep working on Akhamet, Zam keeps sending me these awesome pieces of art, completing the iconic characters (the others were posted in the previous post). I will be posting additional info on the races. <centeR><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/Art.Akhamet.Iconic.2.png" width="75%"></center>JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-91270850978431149292017-11-13T06:52:00.000-07:002017-11-13T06:53:11.855-07:00[ArcadiaQuest] No more pets <P>The final batch of Pets for Will's ArcadiaQuest. I am quite fond of the Mogwai and the turtle! <centeR><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/ArcadiaQuest/1709.ArcadiaQuest.Pets.5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/ArcadiaQuest/1709.ArcadiaQuest.Pets.5.jpg" width="85%"></a><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/ArcadiaQuest/1709.ArcadiaQuest.Pets.6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/ArcadiaQuest/1709.ArcadiaQuest.Pets.6.jpg" width="85%"></a><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/ArcadiaQuest/1709.ArcadiaQuest.Pets.7.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/ArcadiaQuest/1709.ArcadiaQuest.Pets.7.jpg" width="85%"></a></center>JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-26690589723990687332017-11-07T23:57:00.000-07:002017-11-07T23:57:51.749-07:00Akhamet: A new mini-setting/adventure path from FOE <P>All this quiet time... I miss you guys, my reader. <P>Since becoming unemployed, I have not been idle. Between the interviews and work-related training, I came up with a wacky idea. As I churned the idea in my mind, I kept liking what I had. So here goes.... <centeR><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/Akhamet.Logo.png" width="75%"></center><P>This is a setting inspired by ancient Egypt. Here, Pharaoh (not "the Pharaoh" but "Pharaoh") has ruled the land as a god-king for millennia. Just recently, the priest announced that He is dying. Speaking of Pharaoh dying, or not being king anymore is heresy... <P>Hand in hand with that, I have been thinking of a short adventure path to accompany the setting. I have the first adventure mostly done. I have two encounters to do. So I should soon be able to run this for people. <P>At first, I planned to do this for both Pathfinder AND 5e, but as I began to get into it, I decided to focus on 5e. Why? Simplicity of design, speed of design, and well I am much more in a 5e frame of mind. Doing only one system allows me to go faster. Plus who knows, I may decide to make a Pathfinder version later! <P>My idea for this is to have the adventure be allowed as part of Legacies, so you can play the adventure and get rewarded for it in the campaign, much like the Pathfinder Modules or the big adventures from the Adventure League. AL do it quite interesting... <P>Without burning too much yet, as a lot of stuff is still in the works, I leave you with some of Zam's art for the project. She has been doing awesome work for me and I'm very excited. There will be more coming. The following are going to be used as pregens for Akhamet games! <centeR><img src="http://chapleau.us/Img/Art.Akhamet.Iconic.1.png" width="95%"></center> <P>So what classes do you think they should be? What class would be fun to play with these guys?JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-24772610010763182602017-11-07T21:53:00.000-07:002017-11-07T21:53:44.870-07:00[ArcadiaQuest] More pets! <center><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/ArcadiaQuest/1709.ArcadiaQuest.Pets.3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/ArcadiaQuest/1709.ArcadiaQuest.Pets.3.jpg" width="85%"></a><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/ArcadiaQuest/1709.ArcadiaQuest.Pets.4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/ArcadiaQuest/1709.ArcadiaQuest.Pets.4.jpg" width="85%"></a> </center>JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4279162265168778574.post-83860479129775869332017-11-06T21:50:00.000-07:002017-11-06T21:50:52.405-07:00[ArcadiaQuest] Pets gallore <P>Here are a few ArcadiaQuest pets I have been holding to for quite a while now. These are more of Will's collection. <center><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/ArcadiaQuest/1709.ArcadiaQuest.Pets.1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/ArcadiaQuest/1709.ArcadiaQuest.Pets.1.jpg" width="95%"></a><a href="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/ArcadiaQuest/1709.ArcadiaQuest.Pets.2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://chapleau.us/Gallery/ArcadiaQuest/1709.ArcadiaQuest.Pets.2.jpg" width="95%"></a></center>JP Chapleauhttps://plus.google.com/102606616960207711960noreply@blogger.com0